Second Annual Lustgarten Walk—Atlanta Secures Sponsorship from Northside Hospital

WOODBURY, N.Y. – Walk leader Stefanie Wayco is leading Atlanta residents in the fight against pancreatic cancer—a disease with one of the lowest survival rates of any cancer. On Saturday, March 30, join survivors, their families, and others who have been touched by this disease as they raise awareness and funds at the Lustgarten Walk—Atlanta at Ponce City Market/the Beltline. Now in its second year, Stefanie is working tirelessly to surpass last year’s fundraising efforts and the walk has created a new partnership with Northside Hospital.

“We are grateful to have the support of Northside Hospital for this year’s walk,” said Ann Walsh, the Lustgarten Foundation’s Regional Manager. “This sponsorship will help us to promote our event to the Atlanta community and will allow us to highlight the vital work the Foundation is doing for pancreatic cancer patients and their loved ones,” said Ann.

Pancreatic cancer has a five-year survival rate in the single digits. This year, more than 56,000 cases will be diagnosed, and more than 45,000 people will die from pancreatic cancer in the United States. Working to change these statistics, the Lustgarten Foundation directs one hundred percent of every dollar raised to pancreatic cancer research.

After having lost her grandmother to pancreatic cancer in 2011, Stefanie first became involved with the Lustgarten walk in New York City. Then, after losing her mother in 2017, she started the first ever pancreatic cancer research walk in Atlanta last year. “Beating pancreatic cancer requires providing researchers with the tools to continue to make impactful discoveries. For the fighter it takes incredible strength and the unwavering support of family and friends,” said Stefanie. “That’s what drives me to lead this walk and continue to raise money for the Lustgarten Foundation every year,” she said.

Stefanie knows firsthand how critical early detection of this disease is and that was why she decided to support the Lustgarten Foundation, which funded research at Johns Hopkins University that led to a blood test called CancerSEEK that can detect pancreatic cancer as part of a panel of eight common cancers. The Foundation is the only non-profit in the country to have four dedicated pancreatic cancer research laboratories—Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Dana- Farber Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins, and MIT and is dedicated to changing the statistics and outcomes for patients.

The Lustgarten Walk—Atlanta will begin with registration at 8:30 am and the walk at 9:30 am. Participants will walk a 1.5-mile or 3-mile route and are encouraged to bring friends and family out for a day of awareness, raffles, and food. For more information and to register, visit www.lustgarten.org or call 1.866.789.1000.